The NASCAR veteran from Necedah, Wis., focuses instead on his task for this year, winning for GMS Racing and helping the fledgling team become a force in the Camping World Truck Series and beyond.

"When I looked at all the pieces and all the parts that make this go together, the light went off that this is something I definitely want to be a part of," said Sauter, who had worked for ThorSport since his first full-time truck season of 2009.

"They're moving in the right direction. Assembling the people is the last thing we need. We've got it figured out. There's probably going to be some tweaking we need to do, but I don't see any reason we can't win the championship."

The season opens Friday night with the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway. Sauter was fifth fastest in opening practice Thursday.

Sauter's ThorSport teammate, Matt Crafton, won the truck title in 2013 and 2014, while Sauter — the runner-up in 2011 — finished fourth in points the past three years.

With the move, the 37-year-old Sauter became the senior driver at GMS, which launched in the ARCA Racing Series in 2012, moved into trucks in 2013 and ran full time for the first time last year.

His teammates are Spencer Gallagher, the 26-year-old son of team owner Maury Gallagher, and 31-year-old Grant Enfinger, the reigning ARCA Racing Series champion. The elder Gallagher is the CEO and majority owner of Allegiant Air and Allegiant Travel.

"There's enough time to mentor, there's no question about it," said Sauter, a 10-race winner. "I want to be involved, I want to be a good teammate to Spencer and to Grant and if they need something I'm going to do it to the best of my ability.

"(But) the only thing I know I'm expected to do is win races. They've made that very clear. I'm willing to put all my eggs in that basket, and at the end of the day we should be able to."

Anything less than a title, Sauter said, will make 2016 a disappointment.

GMS underwent a massive expansion in the off-season, moving into a three-building complex in Statesville, N.C., where it builds its own chassis and does its own Chevrolet bodies. Engines come from ECR, one of the series' top builders.

"As far as an organization and going about it the right way and doing things on a very professional level, I put them up against anybody, any time," Sauter said. "The key deal to all of that is there are going to be some growing pains because it's new."

Uphill climb: Janesville, Wis., native Travis Kvapil can't reasonably have the same expectations as Sauter. Kvapil is back for a second season with MAKE Motorsports, which is fielding two trucks with three employees plus some weekend help.

"The equipment's definitely not up to date, it's not the best stuff out here by a long shot, but we have fun and we're making strides together trying to build it one step at a time," said Kvapil, the 2003 truck series champion, before opening practice Thursday.

Kvapil ranked 13th fastest of 38 drivers in final practice after being 39th of 41 in the first. Thirty-two trucks will start Friday night.

"We're realistic," Kvapil said. "We know we aren't going to be out chasing wins or top 10s really, for that matter. We just try to make the best of what we have and try not to tear our stuff up and come May or June, points-wise, it'll just benefit the whole team."

Kvapil also had run a limited Cup schedule the past two years, but the reduction of fields to 40 cars this year may prevent that.

"That's three more cars that were realistic opportunities for me, maybe not full time but here and there," he said.

"A lot of owners looked at a list of drivers and these guys are good, capable drivers; well, this guy's got a million dollars to bring, business-wise that makes a lot more sense. I don't have family money, I don't have sponsorship I can bring along, so it's just that much harder to get an opportunity.

Helping hand: Former NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer,a native of Wausau, Wis., is working as a spotter and mentor for Cody Coughlin, both on Coughlin's partial season rookie run in the Camping World Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports and on his short-track program.

"Him being a successful driver also, if I just get in a funk out there, so to speak, he can get me back in the groove, as a rookie I think that's really important," Coughlin said.

"Scott goes with us everywhere, and not only was he an Xfinity driver, he was also really good in short tracks, as well. Big pool of knowledge to pull from him. It's a big asset everywhere we go."

Coughlin is part of the Jegs Performance Products family that made a name in drag racing with 15 national championships. Cody is the first racer in the family to turn left on purpose.

"I kid everybody that I get dizzy for a living," said Coughlin, 20. "It just looked fun, so I tried it and I really like it."